THE RUSSIAN FAMINE.

Southland Times, Issue 19517, 17 May 1922, Page 4

THE RUSSIAN FAMINE.

Though the Russian trade delegation in London is able to announce that the crisis of the famine is over, the trials of the population are not yet over. The Moscow Government would be well pleased if it cbuld convince the Allied delegates that the “home front*’ was not being smashed by the effects of starvation, and the trade delegation’s message may be designed to assist this view. Russia may have passed the crisis of the famine, but it would be absurd for anybody to suggest that this denotes a recovery. At best it means that the famine relief organisation has reached the point of its development where it can say that the process of repairing the ravages and of preventing a return of starvation next winter may begin. The effects of the famine in Russia are going to be felt for many years, and the rehabilitation of the population will be a long and expensive process, but more serious than these things will be the results that will follow the actions of the Allied Governments in response to the appeal of the foodless people. In Britain large sums of money were raised by public appeal, but the Government was slow’ in making any move, and when it did make its effort the amount of its contribution to the famine relief work was paltry. The Americans moved with more generosity and expedition, and to them more than to any other nation is due credit for the fight against famine. Apart from the moral obligation on all peoples to assist the Russians in their trials, the political and business aspect of the matter should have moved the Imperial Government to quicker and more generous action. The reports from the stricken areas have been terrible and that there has been no suggestion of exaggeration is proved by the confirmatory descriptions of the conditions given by men who have had personal knowledge of severe famine conditions in other parts of the world. If the crisis is over the world should rejoice, but there is muqh yet to be done before the people more fortunately placed can feel that their obligations have been satisfied.